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laligin's review against another edition
4.0
I made a terrible error in judgement with this one. I went away from home for a few days, took this with me, and didn't bring book 3. Foolish. This ramps everything up from the first book, dishes out consequences and even more backstabbing and nasty political manoeuvring, has a few stomach churning scenes that unfortunately fit perfectly in the world we've been shown already, and leaves everyone teetering on a knife edge for book 3. Which I can't read immediately. Damn.
wealhtheow's review against another edition
3.0
In the early 1800s, a number of powerful fey lords created a bubble world for their favorite humans to live in. Centuries later, the descendants of those favorites live on in pampered golden cages. Catherine managed to escape the magical world long enough to attend university and live a life of her own, but when she came of age, the fey pulled her back in. Now she's been forcibly married to a near-stranger and is desperate to avoid being his wife. And her husband Will is desperate to become the leader of magical London, as his fairy patron requires of him. Meanwhile, sorcerers are dying mysteriously, the agency that supplies all servants to the magical world is up to something nefarious, and Will's mistress is plotting.
I love the set up of this series. I only wish Sam, the mundane human who stumbles around getting beaten up and then drinking about it, were a little more capable and a little less of a sad sack who knows nothing. I felt like time spent with was a waste when we could instead learn more about all the cool magical stuff that he knows nothing about. Still, this book made me twice as interested in the series as the first book did. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!
I love the set up of this series. I only wish Sam, the mundane human who stumbles around getting beaten up and then drinking about it, were a little more capable and a little less of a sad sack who knows nothing. I felt like time spent with was a waste when we could instead learn more about all the cool magical stuff that he knows nothing about. Still, this book made me twice as interested in the series as the first book did. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!
leah_reads's review against another edition
5.0
*Copy received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you Net Galley and Angry Robot Books*
*If you haven't read Between Two Thorns, don't read this review*
Ahhhh, I loved this book! This one was even better than Between Two Thorns and I adored that one! There is nothing to dislike about this series. The book covers are beautiful, the content is amazing and the author is a wonderful person. So helpful and has all the time in the world for her fans.
Any Other Name picks up where Between Two Thorns left off. Cathy is being prepared to marry William and she finally has a heart to heart with her father - something I thought would never happen. Her initial plan to escape has just been thwarted through her Mother's drugging of her and the stupor that Cathy is continuously in. It's a torturous first scene to the book; I was willing Cathy to come around and to just get right out of there! I was dreading her having to succumb to a marriage organised by the patriarchy that she so despises.
Max the arbiter and Sam are still working on sorting out the same issues from the previous book, but things have gotten much murkier. Sam's wife is in danger and they are working on finding out a way to help her. It appears that things aren't exactly what they seem in her new job in London. There are many twists, turns and revelations. Alongside this, Sam is being continuously sucked into Exilium by Lord Poppy and getting deeper and deeper into trouble as he goes. As well as this, Max is trying to sort through The Agency to discover what the murky situation is there. There is so much going on in this book!
I found Will and Cathy's marriage heartbreaking. Neither of them are married to the ideal person. Cathy is a strong independent woman with role models in the form of the Suffragettes. I absolutely love that Newman is exploring the issues of women's rights. It's amazing to see her create a new feminist figure out of Cathy as Cathy contemplates escaping or staying around to fight for the rights of women in her own world. Will is such a conflicting character. Sometimes I really, really like him and I pity him; then his patriarchal side makes an appearance and I get so cranky. Yes, he isn't as bad as the majority of the men but still. Infuriating. I'm looking forward to finding out what develops with Amelia (Will's mistress) and Cornelius in the next book!
This book is filled with action. There is murder attempts, upheaval of patriarchal structures and plenty of threats circulating amongst the characters. The world building continues to be phenomenal and the writing is beautiful. I really can't get enough of this series. In fact, my dissertation supervisor is reading it at the moment and loving it! It would be amazing if it ended up on the syllabus! I really cannot wait for the next book. Highly, highly recommended.
*Thank you Net Galley and Angry Robot Books*
*If you haven't read Between Two Thorns, don't read this review*
Ahhhh, I loved this book! This one was even better than Between Two Thorns and I adored that one! There is nothing to dislike about this series. The book covers are beautiful, the content is amazing and the author is a wonderful person. So helpful and has all the time in the world for her fans.
Any Other Name picks up where Between Two Thorns left off. Cathy is being prepared to marry William and she finally has a heart to heart with her father - something I thought would never happen. Her initial plan to escape has just been thwarted through her Mother's drugging of her and the stupor that Cathy is continuously in. It's a torturous first scene to the book; I was willing Cathy to come around and to just get right out of there! I was dreading her having to succumb to a marriage organised by the patriarchy that she so despises.
Max the arbiter and Sam are still working on sorting out the same issues from the previous book, but things have gotten much murkier. Sam's wife is in danger and they are working on finding out a way to help her. It appears that things aren't exactly what they seem in her new job in London. There are many twists, turns and revelations. Alongside this, Sam is being continuously sucked into Exilium by Lord Poppy and getting deeper and deeper into trouble as he goes. As well as this, Max is trying to sort through The Agency to discover what the murky situation is there. There is so much going on in this book!
I found Will and Cathy's marriage heartbreaking. Neither of them are married to the ideal person. Cathy is a strong independent woman with role models in the form of the Suffragettes. I absolutely love that Newman is exploring the issues of women's rights. It's amazing to see her create a new feminist figure out of Cathy as Cathy contemplates escaping or staying around to fight for the rights of women in her own world. Will is such a conflicting character. Sometimes I really, really like him and I pity him; then his patriarchal side makes an appearance and I get so cranky. Yes, he isn't as bad as the majority of the men but still. Infuriating. I'm looking forward to finding out what develops with Amelia (Will's mistress) and Cornelius in the next book!
This book is filled with action. There is murder attempts, upheaval of patriarchal structures and plenty of threats circulating amongst the characters. The world building continues to be phenomenal and the writing is beautiful. I really can't get enough of this series. In fact, my dissertation supervisor is reading it at the moment and loving it! It would be amazing if it ended up on the syllabus! I really cannot wait for the next book. Highly, highly recommended.
nothingbutthedreams's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I think this book is much stronger than the last one. I've only given it three stars though because there's one big plot point which I'm not a fan of, which is the use of love potions and charms. Unless it's somehow revealed that Will didn't give Cathy something to make her want to have sex with him then I'm going to continue to find that incredibly dodgy and not like him because of it. Generally the fact that Cathy has the threat of him possibly raping her hanging over her as a point to show how bad that world is leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially as there are plenty of other ways that Emma Newman's already shown how unpleasant that world can be.
I am interested in reading the next book though as there are enough elements in these books that I like enough to continue. I'd quite happily read a whole series of Max and the gargoyle solving crime, especially if Ekstrand was also involved. I'm also liking Cathy more as the books go on so I hope that continues, especially now she's learnt to be less selfish. The last pages with Sam were intriguing as well so I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.
Overall I am looking forward to reading more of this universe. I just really hope that Cathy gets to punch Will if she finds out what he did (assuming that is what he did of course). I'm also hoping that he'll become less gullible as even with dramatic irony and everything else I can't see how he can keep believing the Rosa-Albas for much longer.
I am interested in reading the next book though as there are enough elements in these books that I like enough to continue. I'd quite happily read a whole series of Max and the gargoyle solving crime, especially if Ekstrand was also involved. I'm also liking Cathy more as the books go on so I hope that continues, especially now she's learnt to be less selfish. The last pages with Sam were intriguing as well so I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.
Overall I am looking forward to reading more of this universe. I just really hope that Cathy gets to punch Will if she finds out what he did (assuming that is what he did of course). I'm also hoping that he'll become less gullible as even with dramatic irony and everything else I can't see how he can keep believing the Rosa-Albas for much longer.
trinforeman's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE these books. The Victorian society,the Fae, the split worlds. It is all absolutely enthralling.
lizshayne's review
4.0
...this may be the fastest I have ever read an audiobook. I don't even feel a little bit sorry. As I said about the first book, The Split Worlds are everything I want out of an urban fantasy novel and I'm really enjoying them. I just wish they were more widely available. I'm afraid I may need to buy a (non-audio) copy for the L&J lending library.
Also, I can't throw nice technology across the room and, man, I wanted to either do that or deck William. Seriously.
And Newman's voice work gets even better. She's a brilliant storyteller.
Also, I can't throw nice technology across the room and, man, I wanted to either do that or deck William. Seriously.
And Newman's voice work gets even better. She's a brilliant storyteller.
mcummings's review
5.0
I liked this installment even better than the first, because the world building is mostly done with, and we can now concentrate on the characters, their relationships and the evil machinations happening all around. Other people have written some excellent reviews, so please read theirs if you need more incentive!
rodoh22's review
5.0
2nd part in the trilogy is probably better than part 1. A terrific story with a lot of parts to be tidied up, fun and very well told as a modern Fae Story.
tommykayreads's review
4.0
The second installment of the Split Worlds Trilogy is very good and equal to the first. I am enjoying the characters--they are very complex. Even the good guys have serious flaws. There are three or four storylines happening all at once. None of them really get resolved in this book which, I guess, is it's only negative. Hopefully all of the threads will be tied up in the last installment of the series.